Charity Fundraising

At Housing Units, we pride ourselves in supporting charities. Each year our staff members make suggestions on which charity they think we should support and one is chosen from a selection of both national and local charities. In the past, charities we have supported have included Christies, British Heart Foundation, Doctor Kershaw’s Hospice and Helping Hands. This year, we are again proud to be supporting Kidscan, a Salford based charity who specifically support research into new and improved treatments for children with cancer.


The Housing Units Big 75 Challenge

Housing Units turns 75 this year and we have lots of activities planned to mark this special occasion, but felt it would be extra special if we could use it to help those less fortunate. 

As we continue to support Kidscan, we couldn’t possibly ask for donations without setting a ridiculous challenge for our team to complete!  Following on from our Big 70 challenge in 2017 and fitting with the 75-year theme, we came up with the idea of completing a 75-mile Summit to Sea Triathalon on the 17th June, which comprises the following:

Leg one - 20 mile mountain run across Striding Edge

Leg two - Cycle 49 miles across Wrynose & Hardnottt Pass

Leg three - Relay swimming 6 miles of Lake Windermere

As you can appreciate, the thought of this challenge is quite daunting to say the least! We do however believe this madness is deserving of donations towards Kidscan! We have set a target of raising over £10,000 from this unique event, which will all go towards helping children with cancer. Please visit our Just Giving page here to donate.

Participants: Nick Fox, Richard Newson, Karl Shackley, Matt Embury, Darren Anderson, Stuart Barber & Nick Halliday.


Housing Units' 17th annual Charity Golf Day takes total cancer fundraising to over £50,000

At the 2019 Housing Units Charity Golf Day nearly £6,000 was raised in aid of Kidscan, the company's elected charity for 2019.

Over the last four years the company has raised over £50,000 for the charity.

More than 60 golfers made up of teams from suppliers and Housing Units colleagues attended the event. This year the event was won by Michael Boyle and in keeping with tradition he was presented with the Housing Units green jacket.

Nick Fox C.E.O of Housing Units commented: "We have been hosting our charity golf day for 17 years now and as I say every year, it justs gets better and better each year. This year we are delighted to have raised nearly £6,000 for Kidscan and I am looking forward to next year's event already."


Housing Units’ 16th Charity Golf Day Helps Children with Cancer

Housing Units, the Manchester based home department store has raised more than £5,000 at its recent golf day in aid of Kidscan, the children’s cancer charity, the company's elected charity for 2018. Over the last three years the company has raised over £40,000 for Kidscan.

Over 60 golfers made up of both suppliers and colleagues attended the event. The overall event was won by Housing Unit’s Site and Security Manager, Carl Davidson and in tradition he was presented with the Housing Units green jacket.

Nick Fox C.E.O- commented: "We have been hosting our charity golf day for 16 years now and it just gets better every year. We are delighted to have raised over £5,000 for Kidscan and look forward to next year’s event.”


Housing Units’ 15th Annual Golf Day raises over £5,000 for Kidscan and takes total fund raising to over £40,000

Housing Units has raised £5,125 for children’s cancer charity, Kidscan, with over 60 participants taking part in its 15th annual golf day.

The golf day is held each year at the Saddleworth Golf Club, and has raised £40,000 over the past two years for the children’s cancer charity. This year it was participant Charlie Grasby (pictured 3rd from the left next to Housing Units Doorman, Mark Osbourne) who pipped his competitors to the post, scoring 42 points.

The Failsworth-based store has retained Kidscan as its nominated charity for a third year running after being impressed with its pioneering research into finding effective, gentler treatments for childhood cancer sufferers. The charity receives no statutory funding, and therefore relies on donations and support from organisations such as Housing Units.

Nick Fox, CEO at Housing Units, added: “Kidscan carries out ground-breaking research, and we are delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the day, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”


The Big 70 Challenge

This month will see the start of Housing Units’ 70th Platinum Anniversary celebrations.

Well done to our team who completed the Big 70 Challenge. The team have managed to raise £9,600 for our nominated charity Kidscan with more donations to come in to allow us to hit our target of £10,000.

It was a gruelling challenge but all completed with no major injuries. The team completed the mountain run in 7.5 hours with the final summit on Scafell Pike before running down to Wasdale Lake. The Bike ride was challenging with Hardnott Pass being the toughest part of the whole challenge. This has 2.5km of gradients up to 30%. They got through this in 5.5 hours and finally managed to kayak down Windermere in 4 hours, finishing their celebrations at the Swan Inn. A challenging but rewarding experience. We might wait until we are 75 to do the next one!

The 70-mile ultra-challenge in the Lake District on the 19th-20th May comprised of the following:

Leg one - 20 mile mountain challenge run taking in 2 of England’s highest mountains, Bowfell & Scarfell Pike

Leg two - 40 mile endurance cycle summiting 2 of the steepest and longest passes in the UK, Hardnott & Wrynose Pass

Leg three - 10 mile kayak down Windermere, England’s longest lake

Now you can see why we’re calling this the Big 70 Challenge – you can appreciate the thought of this challenge for our team is quite daunting to say the least! With an average team age of 44 (with Sean greatly adjusting the average!) we are not exactly at our prime!

We believe this madness is deserving of a significant donation to Kidscan! We have set a target of raising over £10,000 from this unique event, which will be donated to fund research to ensure children diagnosed with cancer can not only survive but thrive.

Any gesture would be very much appreciated, and you can easily donate to this worthy cause at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/thebig70.


Housing Units continues its successful partnership with Kidscan

The North-West’s premier home furnishing centre, Housing Units, has chosen children’s cancer research charity Kidscan as its nominated charity for a second year running.

The Failsworth-based store raised a staggering £14,186 in its first year, with fundraising activities ranging from in-store competitions to running the Manchester Marathon. Most recently, the store introduced a ‘Norman the Doorman’ teddy bear, with a proportion of each sale going to Kidscan.

The money raised by Housing Units will go towards the charity’s pioneering research into finding effective yet gentle treatments for childhood cancer sufferers. Kidscan does not receive any statutory funding, so relies on the generosity of businesses and the general public.

Speaking on the continued partnership, Lowri Haf Turner, Director of Development at Kidscan, said: “We are thrilled that Housing Units has chosen to continue with us for a second year. We’ve had a great year together and are really grateful for their effort and support. The funds raised by Housing Units will be crucial in helping us to develop research for new and improved treatments for children with cancer.”

Nick Fox, CEO at Housing Units, added: “We have developed a great relationship with Kidscan, and our staff feel strongly about the cause, so it made sense to continue working with them. We have some exciting fundraising plans for the year ahead, and we can’t wait to get started.”


Housing Units’ 14th Annual Golf Day raises a total of £5,000 for Kidscan

Housing Units has raised £5,000 for children’s cancer charity, Kidscan, with a record-breaking 70 participants taking part in its 14th annual golf day.

The golf day occurs each year at the Saddleworth Golf Club, and has raised £160,000 to-date for local and national charities. This year’s event raised £5,000, with participant Michael Boyle pipping his competitors to the post, scoring 42 points.

The Failsworth-based store has retained Kidscan as its nominated charity for a second year running after being impressed with its pioneering research into finding effective, gentler treatments for childhood cancer sufferers. The charity receives no statutory funding, and therefore relies on donations and support from organisations such as Housing Units. Since the beginning of their partnership in April 2015, Housing Units has raised over £19,000 for the charity.

Lowri Haf Turner, Director of Development at Kidscan, said: “Housing Units has helped out tremendously for Kidscan over the past year, and we are extremely appreciative of their continued support. With the help and support of fundraisers, we can continue to carry out active research into finding better treatments for children with cancer.”

Nick Fox, CEO at Housing Units, added: “Kidscan carry out ground-breaking research, and we are delighted to be able to support such a worthy cause. Everybody thoroughly enjoyed the day, and we’re already looking forward to next year’s event.”

You can read more about Housing Units fundraising events for Kidscan in 2015 here.


Kidscan’s ‘I Miss’ campaign

The latest campaign from Kidscan compares the sacrifice of a small luxury such as a cup of coffee with the potentially life-changing impact that a comparable donation could have on the life of a child with cancer, the campaign is centred on the stories of two people with first-hand experience of the disease. You can see and hear Gracie and Laura tell their stories in their own words at www.kidscan.org.uk.

As Gracie and Laura discuss what they miss as a result of cancer treatment, Kidscan asks in return that you forgo one small luxury during the month of September to make a donation towards Kidscan's vital research. Whatever you can spare, please do so at www.kidscan.org.uk/donate/.

Gracie’s 'I Miss'

5 year old cancer sufferer, Gracie, shares how much she misses her cat, Sparkle, when she's having treatment. What would you be willing to miss to help children like Gracie? Your support is greatly appreciated by Kidscan and all those they care for. Thank you.

About Kidscan - Children's Cancer Research

Cancer is the leading cause of death in children in the UK and 25% of Children diagnosed with cancer won’t make it to their 30th birthday. Through ground breaking research, Kidcscan is striving to change that, giving every child with cancer the treatment they need to survive.

  • Kidscan was founded on 2nd December 2002 by Professor Alan McGown who had identified that there was no research institute that specifically supported children’s cancer

  • Upon taking his chair at the University of Salford, Prof. McGown launched the charity in order to support research

  • Work carried out by Kidscan covers a range of activities from research into the psychological effects of children’s cancer, through to applied laboratory research focused on improving the outcome of therapies currently in use

  • Kidscan receives no statutory funding and relies solely on the support of businesses, trusts, public donations and fundraising events

  • Dr. David Pye was appointed Scientific Director in April 2014

Childhood Cancer

  • The risk of developing cancer in childhood is approximately 1 in 500, accounting for 1,600 new cases per year in the UK

  • Incidence of childhood cancers has increased by over one third in the past 40 years, however, the impact of this has been reduced by better diagnosis and treatment, resulting in an overall decrease in deaths by over 50% in the same period
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Housing Units Limited. Registered office Distribution And Administration, Centre, Tweedale Way, Chadderton Oldham, OL9 7HU. Company registration no. 00445593
Retail store address: Housing Units Retail Park, Wickentree Lane, Failsworth, Manchester, M35 9BA